PRESS RELEASE
PTF APPEALS TO NIGERIANS TO COOPERATE WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS
The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has appealed to Nigerians to fully cooperate with healthcare providers to surmount the pandemic in the country.
The Chairman made the appeal at the daily PTF press briefing in Abuja, following a sharp rise in the number of confirmed cases in the country.
In his words “we note the number of confirmed cases for Wednesday, 15th April, 2020 which represent the highest single day rise in number since inauguration of the PTF a month ago. We also note the encouraging number of people discharged from care and management facilities.”
He however stated that compliance with advisories for personal hygiene, social/physical distancing, restriction of movement, early reporting of symptoms and wearing of masks especially in public are the best measures for prevention of infections and to slow down the spread.
The Chairman reiterated the need for Nigerians to take responsibilities and play their roles properly noting that the country is in a state of war against an invisible enemy.
He used the opportunity to appeal to law enforcement agencies assigned to ensure compliance with Presidential Orders to be civil, observing human rights of Nigerians.
Also speaking, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who is also a member the PTF, warned private medical practitioners to desist from secretly managing people with COVID-19 outside of accredited health facilities.
Dr. Ehanire advised private practitioners who are interested in treating COVID-19 patients to obtain accreditation from appropriate authorities in view of the fact that COVID-19 is highly infectious disease.
He commended efforts of Lagos State Government and the Federal Capital Territory Administration as they strive to enhance case-finding by conducting house-to-house and cluster-testing based on epidemiological assessments.
He announced that the national testing capacity has been expanded to 3000 (three thousand) per day in molecular laboratories nationwide, activated by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control.
Willie Bassey
Director (Information)
Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation
